Russian annexation of Crimea violates norms of international law: German FM

REUTERS

Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas says Russia's annexation of Crimea violates the norms of international law.

"The annexation was a violation of international law. We will continue to clearly emphasize this. We refuse to return to business as usual (with Russia), however long this may last," the German Foreign Ministry quoted Maas on Twitter.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the United States called on Russia to end its occupation of Ukraine's Crimea.

"The United States calls on Russia to respect the principles to which it has long claimed to adhere and to end its occupation of Crimea," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press statement titled "Crimea Declaration" on July 25, 2018.